by Elizabeth.H | Jul 19, 2023 | Newsroom
Undoubtedly, the internet has completely changed the world and life as we know it for good. Every sports highlight from almost every era can be found online. In the same lifetime, a person who might have had to huddle around a tiny television with an ariel sticking out of its top at a neighbour’s house to catch one episode of their favourite show a week only needs a cell phone and a stable internet connection to watch their favourite childhood television shows as well as the latest show all at once.
The entertainment achievements of technology are only the absolute tip of the iceberg of what technology has given us. However, they are the simplest and, in a sense, most relatable way for many to see the leaps and bounds that developing technology has come along over a relatively short period. All before we get on to the topic of the deeply nuanced Artificial Intelligence developments.
If technological developments were a spectrum, somewhere in the middle, cryptocurrencies would be found nestled in the spot reserved for what many call one of the most disruptive creations in the financial space.
From an African perspective, crypto poses a wide scope of opportunity.
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology have the potential to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa. They can facilitate crowdfunding through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) or token sales, allowing African entrepreneurs to raise funds for their projects.
Additionally, crypto, with its decentralized nature and limited supply can serve as a hedge against high inflation rates and provide African crypto players to build up a store of value that is not subject to intense government manipulation.
One of the most important benefits of crypto in Africa can be likened to being able to watch one’s favourite show on their cellphone as opposed to a neighbour’s house.
Cryptocurrencies have the potential to provide financial services to the unbanked and underbanked populations in Africa. Many people in Africa lack access to traditional banking services, but they often have access to mobile phones. Cryptocurrencies can enable individuals to participate in the global economy, make transactions, and store value without the need for a traditional bank account.
ICAP Africa Direct can serve as a guide to businesses and individuals looking to capitalize on the cryptocurrency market.
Access to crypto-currencies and stablecoin, their futures and options with relevant market data and analytics enables ICAP Africa Direct to provide well-informed solutions to their clients.
A trusted global network enables ICAP Africa Direct to offer virtually all financial derivatives and currencies and the market intelligence that will give their clients a competitive advantage. Developing as the market does allows ICAP Africa Direct to have a finger on the pulse of both traditional financial products and services as well as the emerging digital products that are now in play.
If you would like to get in touch to find out how ICAP Africa Direct can help you get involved or develop your current operations in the emerging digital financial marketplace contact: elizabeth.haskins@icapafrica.org or jason.ramberose@icapafrica.org
We look forward to hearing from you!
by Elizabeth.H | Jul 12, 2023 | Newsroom
Africa is a continent that is rich in fables, stories, anecdotes and concepts that helps its people make sense of the ever-changing fast-paced world they find themselves in.
One of the fundamental ideologies of African culture is Ubuntu. The concept of Ubuntu has deep historical and cultural roots in Africa. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific date for its introduction, as it has been part of African societies for centuries. It is an ancient philosophy and way of life that emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals within a community.
In recent times, the concept has become somewhat cliché, especially in South Africa. It has in some sense been commercialised and some do complain that it is overused and therefore has lost some of its cultural significance. There have been several sporting teams, grocery store franchises, restaurants as well as private sector organisations who have used the concept of Ubuntu in a few of their communication campaigns. This has led to the occasional yawn from some South Africans when they see the word on their screens or the material they read.
However, despite the tinges of commercialisation that many feel has watered it down, it is still held at the core of many Africans because of the deep-rooted philosophical principles it calls on people to exhibit. One can see it in the warm greetings shared between two strangers on the sidewalk in a sunny suburban area. Or the young man who helps a lady walk her groceries to her house, in the middle of winter, from the taxi stop even though the trip might be thirty minutes in the other direction.
Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu loosely translated from Zulu means “I am because we are”. This means that all members in a community are only as strong as the sum of all the parts that make it up, working well together. Therefore, helping someone else means helping oneself.
ICAP Africa Direct strives to embody this principle in all their dealings internally as an organisation with external stakeholders. The objective for the organisation will always be to evolve with the markets and exhibit transparency, connection and collaboration underpinned in driving sustainable solutions to all who interact with the services provided.
Nelson Mandela spelled out the concept of Ubuntu quite succinctly when he was quoted saying “Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves and their needs. The larger question is, as an individual am I going to address my needs in a way that enables the greater community to improve?”
Let us all get involved in enabling the African financial ecosystem around us together in the spirit of this deeply rooted African concept.
If you would like to get in touch with us in order to keep business in Africa moving, please email: elizabeth.haskins@icapafrica.org or jason.ramberose@icapafrica.org
by Elizabeth.H | Jul 7, 2023 | Newsroom
In Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic “The Wolf of Wall Street”, the critically acclaimed director had his blockbuster interpretation on a sub-genre in American film. Glamourising the ins and outs of the finance industry specifically Wall Street circa 1987. We have seen the same tropes in other movies like Wall Street starring Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen. As well as Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, where Douglas reprises his role as the capitalist, sharp witted Gordon Gekko. Now, these movies do make for good viewing with everything occurring on the screen moving at 200mph. Equal parts the excitement of coming into riches and subsequently losing them. However, in amongst the theatrical debauchery displayed in these movies, there are some gems littered across the run time.
In a high rise building on his first day on Wall Street a shy, unknowing Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) sits in front of Mark Hanna (McConaughey). As a top trader Hanna aims to school a starry-eyed Belfort in the art of trading and brokering. “I don’t care if you’re Jimmy Buffet or if you’re Warren Buffet. No one and I mean no one, knows if the stock is gonna go up down sideways or in *expletive* circles.” he tells his new bookie with bravado. He goes on to explain how all brokers need to do is keep a close eye on the market and make informed decisions to get the best results for their clients and in return themselves. It is an oversimplified take on a complicated system, but it does give insight into the volatility of the market.
Now ICAP Africa Direct would never say that they do know how the markets are going to play out at any given time. However, what we can promise our clients is access to a wide variety of execution and information services globally to wholesale market participants. ICAP Africa Direct focuses and combines these resources to offer a holistic range of risk and execution services dedicated to the African financial and business markets. Our strategy is to evolve with the markets, stay ahead of the competition and constantly strive to improve the range and the quality of our services.
So, if the market is going up or down, sideways or in a circle you can trust ICAP Africa Direct’s team to, at the very least, help you make sense of it all.
If you would like to get in touch with us to help us, help you please email: elizabeth.haskins@icapafrica.org or jason.ramberose@icapafrica.org
We look forward to hearing from you!
by Elizabeth.H | Jun 28, 2023 | Newsroom
There is no disputing that global markets are changing rapidly in real time. Bloomberg subscription holders probably get more notifications from the cellular app than they get from family and loved ones. The market has always been and probably always will be an ever-changing splatter painting of colours and patterns and just now, Africa has started adding their own hues to the canvas in a big way.
At the New Global Financing Pact summit in Paris, France on Friday the 23rd of June, President Cyril Ramaphosa quite pointedly told a frosty faced Emmanuel Macron that Africans are not “beggars”.
The South African president additionally touched on times in recent history in which Africa has had to come cap in hand to Western states. Relating the difficulties, the African continent faced when trying to obtain vaccines during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “We felt we needed access to vaccines and the northern hemisphere countries had bought all the vaccines in the world and they were hogging them, and they didn’t want to release them at the time when we needed them most” the Sowetan born president bemoaned.
Now, questions have arisen at various media agencies as to why President Ramaphosa as well as other African leaders at the Summit chose this line of direct expression during the gathering.
Many analysts have touted the “BRICS” alliance between the developing countries within the coalition as a new backbone for African countries and their alliances to voice their concerns against the West more pointedly. This emerging coalition is being predicted by some to alter the financial system as we know it, in a big way.
Is this true? Only time will tell.
However, what can be said for sure is that during times of market volatility, there are opportunities to capitalise on. ICAP Africa Direct aids market players in this effort. With the use of a holistic range of risk and execution services such as financial derivatives broking, market intelligence and consultancy based on market analytics and data.
The market painting (to labour the introductions analogy) may look very complicated at the moment as all abstract pieces of art do. ICAP Africa Direct can help you make sense of it all.
If you would like to get in touch with us, please email: elizabeth.haskins@icapafrica.org or jason.ramberose@icapafrica.org
We look forward to hearing from you!
by Duncan Keil | Jan 6, 2023 | Newsroom
Happy New Year to you all, we hope this is a successful and enjoyable year for you. Many African countries are running short of hard currency and have implemented exchange controls or simply cannot keep pace with demand. A lot of our clients have requested assistance in turning their African local currency back into hard currency. We have worked hard to offer a variety of solutions and liquidity partners for the majority of the challenging currencies. In addition, we have finalised a joint venture with DhowKimura (SCTF), a London based commodity trade finance fund, to offer a trade finance option for the repatriation of funds. Essentially, trapped local currency funds will be leant as trade finance to fund commodity exports and the funds will be repaid in hard currency. DhowKimura provide the complete umbrella ‘wrap’ for these transactions, significantly reducing the associated risks and these structures facilitate the repatriation of funds at rates that are much better than the parallel market rates. For more information please email or call us.
by Duncan Keil | Oct 5, 2021 | Newsroom
We will be hosting a Webinar on the 28th of October at 16h00 (SAST) together with our market research partners, ETM Analytics. We will cover the following topics,
- Global dollar liquidity and the support it has provided for African assets and economies
- Tighter monetary policy will lead to more liquidity pressures across the continent
- The shift in policy rhetoric in China and what that means for Africa
- China business cycle
- The impact of inflation and input costs on corporate profitability, which in turn impacts Chinese demand
- Power curbs and the impact on productive capacity and commodity demand
- The impact of tighter monetary policy and signs of slowing activity in China on commodities
- The commodity outlook and the impact for commodity-producing countries
- COVID-19 and the impact it has had on fiscal dynamics in Africa
- Vaccines and the impact it is having on tourism and trade
- The importance of fiscal, FX and macroeconomic resilience for African assets
- Long term outlook for African countries through the lens of ETM’s demographic model
More information to follow.
For more details email us directly at info@icapfrica.org
